Assessment of Short Term Memory by the Word and Object Test in Young Adults

Abstract

Short term memory is highly vulnerable to distraction, requiring attention and vigilance to maintain the content. It is often tested at the bedside by asking the patient to recall several digits forward and backward. Materials and Method: Fifty (50) young healthy adults age group of 17 to 24 years in Ajmer were randomly selected for this study (50 males and 50 females). In our study we have used free recall tasks of word and object. We have asked the subjects to recall the displayed words and pictures of objects. Number of correct items were measured. Descriptive statistics included computation of percentages, means and standard deviations. Level of significance was set at P≤0.05. Results: The result of present study suggests that statistically decrease in short term memory status in higher tasks of test. Short term memory status for object test was significantly greater than word test. Statistically significant gender difference was observed in object test in which female having better short term memory. There was significant improvement in memory status after applying of memory enhancing methods in all subjects and more so in females. Conclusion: In present study progressive decrease in memory status in higher tasks of word test is due to increase in number of items more than seven as an individual can hold 7+2 bits of information.In our study were have observed that females are having more short term memory for object test due to high attention, participation in tasks. Short term memory for object test was significantly higher than word test which may be due to good sight. Key words: Short term Memory, object test, word test